Machine for manufacturing sheet-metal can-bodies.



PATEN'IED MAB.. 2l, 1905.

M. A. WHEATON. MAGHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METALCAN BMODIES..

APPLICATION FILED JAH. 2, 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD MAR. 2l, 1905.

Nol- 785,584.

M. A. WEEATON. MACHINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

14 SHBHTS-BHBBT 2.

PATENT'ED MAR. 2l, 1905.

M. Al WEEATON. v MACHINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN EUDTES.

` APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903. v

14 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0.785,584. A' l PATENTED MAR.21,1905. M. A. WHEATON.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL'GAN BODIES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

14 SHBETS-SHEBT 4.

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'JulmllnI www 51; il] m'PVWW/m E ifi-: IMA mi?! |11 d: Il. @I

PATENTEE MAE. 21, 1905."

l M. A'. WEEATON.

MACHINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL CAN EUDIES.

APPLICATION F'ILED JAN. 2, 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

No. 785,584. f 1 PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

' 1v1. A. WHBATON.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL C'AN BODIES. APPLIATION FILED M112. 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

PATENTED MAR. 421, 1905.

M. A. WHEATON. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2,'1903.

14 SHEETS-'SHEET 7.

N0. 785,584. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

' M. A. WHEATON.

MACHINE FOR' MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL CAN BODIES.

APPLIGATION FILED JN. z, 190s.

14 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

N o. 785,584. PATENTED MAB.. 2l, 1905. M. A. WHEATON.

MACHINE FOR MANUFAGTURING SHEET METAL CAN BODIES. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2, 190s.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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PATENIED MAR. 2l, 1905. A

l M. A.'WHEATON. MACHINE EUR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

N0. 785,584. PATENTED MAR. 2l, 1905.

` M. A. WHEATON.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN BODIES.

' APPLICATION FILED mm2, 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

PATENTEE MAE. 21, 1905.

` M. A. WEEATON. y MACHINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN BODIES.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

EATENTED MAE. 21, 1905.

M. A. WIT-EATON. MAGEINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL GAN BODIES.

APPLIUATION 'FILED JAN. 2.1903.-

14 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

vPATENTED. MAE. 21, 1905.

- M. A. WEEAT'ON.V

MACHINE EOE MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL CAN BODIES. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2. 1903..

14 `SHIEE'JTS-SHIIET 14.

A around a horn.

the horn.

NTTED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET-METAL CAN-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,584, dated March 21, 1905.

i Application filed January 2, 1903. Serial No. 137,575.

To a/Z, Vwil/m, if; m/rty/ con/cern- Be it known that I, MIL'roN ANVHEATON, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Machine for Manufacturing Sheet-Metal Can- Bodies, and particularly can-bodies that are made of tin, of which the following is a specification.

The operations of can-body machines generally consist of seven fundamental steps. The

' first is that of receiving the metal sheet, which is commonly calleda "blankf7 and feeding it forward into the machine. The second is the bending or folding of the ends of the sheet over so that they may be subsequently made to interlock and form the side seam of the canbody. One of the ends of the metal sheets is folded over in one direction, while the other end is folded over in the opposite direction. In the specification I use the word folded to identify these bent-over ends of the metal sheet. I also use the word blank to identify the metal sheet which is made into the canbody. These blanks are cut to exactly the right size to make into the can-bodies before they are fed into the machine. The third step is the bending of the blank into a cylinder The fourth is the locking of the folded ends of the blank into each other. The fifth step is the bumping of the interlocked folded ends of the blank. and thus pressing them into a locked seam. The sixth step is the iuxing of the seam by treating it to an acidnbath, and the seventh step is the soldering of the seam. With these operations performed the metal blank is converted into a finished can-body. In my invention I follow these fundamental operations in the order stated, except that I flux the folded ends of the blank before the seam is interlocked and while the blank is only bent halfway around In other respects I have new ways and new mechanism for performing most of the operations mentioned.

' In the accompanying drawings, which are hereby referred to and made a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 taken together illustrate in side elevation one form of a machine embodying my invention, sonne of the parts being omitted to avoid obscurity. Fig.

3 is a frontelevation of the same, some of the parts being omitted and others shown in section. Fig. 4 is a broken detail side elevation. Fig. 5 is a broken top plan View of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of the fIuXing and seam-forming mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 7 Fig. 7 is a top plan view of substantially the same. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the same parts looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 7. Fig.4 9 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the iiuxing mechanism and part of the body-forming mechanism. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the horn in cross-section and also one end of the folding devices. Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing a portion of the folding apparatus and other parts. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of substantially the same. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken along line 13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the guides that direct the blank to the folders, showing adjusting-screws. Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the folding devices. Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional View of the same with the guides for the blanks added. Figs. 17 and 18 are transverse sectional elevations of the folder-operating mechanism, the folders being shown in two positions and a blank K being twice shown, once before its ends are folded and again after its ends are folded. Fig. 19 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the greater 'portion of one form of the seam-forming mechanism. Fig. 20 is a similar view of a modified form of the same, taken on line 2O of Fig. 21. Fig. 21 is a transverse sectional view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 21 in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the soldering apparatus. Fig. 23 is a transverse sectional view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 23 in Fig. 2Q and showing its position relatively to the horn. Figs.

24, 25, and 26 are enlarged transverse sectional views of the body-forming mechanism, the former being shown in three different positions and the blank in two positions, the blank being omitted from View 26. Figs. 27,

TOO

' which rise from the main frame.

28, and 29 are enlarged detail views of aportion of the seam-forming mechanism, showing the seam open, partly closed, and entirely closed, respectively. Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional view showing the former locked open, its wings being swung back to their greatest limit, and also showing other parts connected therewith. Fig. 3l is a side elevation of the former partly closed, the device for positively forcing down the upper wings of the former being shown in two positions, one being in dotted lines. Figs. 32 and 33 are a broken side elevation and a plan view, respectivel y, of part of the bumping or seam-closing devices. Fig. 34 is an enlarged detail view showing a part of the hinge between the first and second wings and one of the studs that carry the blank forward. Fig. 35 is a top plan view of the former closed. Fig. 36 is a longitudinal sectional view of a slightly-modified construction of a portion of the seamforming mechanism. Figs. 37 and 38 are transverse sectional views of the same, taken on lines 37 and 38, respectively, of Fig. 36 and looking in the direction of the respective arrows. Fig. 39 is a perspective view of a portion of the seam-forming mechanism, and Figs. 40 and 41 are cross-sectional views showing de ails thereof.

In tie drawings, A is the main frame, and comprises the two end frames A2 A2, which are joined together by side rails A3 A4, showing an intermediate support. Two shafts B2 B2 are journaled upon the frame, one being at each end thereof, and upon each one of the shafts B2 are mounted two sprocket-wheels B3 B3. An additional shaft Bi is journaled on the front end frame A2 and receives power through a pulley B5, which power is transmitted to the adjacent shaft B2 through a gearwheel BG and a pinion B7, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The pinion B7 is on the shaft Bf. The gearwheel BG and the pinion on shaft B4 are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The sprocket-wheels B3 carry an endless double sprocket-chain that travels constantly in one direction when the machine is at work. Each one of the double sprocket chains (marked B in the drawings) is composed of a series of links B8, flexibly secured together by transverse link-rods B9. Each one of these link rods Bu reaches across, so as to pass through the links of both the sprocket-chains, and connects the links together at their joints. It also reaches far enough beyond the links to engage with the sprocket-wheels B3 and also to rest upon longitudinal rails orrunways A8, which are supported parallel with and at a short distance from two tracks A5 and A5. The two tracks A5 and AG are secured longitudinally with the frame, one above the other, the top one being supported upon brackets A7, (See Figs. l, 2, 3, and 7.) The outer ends of the linkrods may be shouldered and the links secured thereon by pins B1", Fig. 7. The bearing for the shaft B2 at the discharge end of the machine is fastened with bolts to the main frame, Fig. 2. The holes through which these bolts pass are slotted, so that the bearing can be moved back and forth to adjust the tension of the traveling sprocket-chain carrier B.

The feeding mechanism comprises a reciprocating carrier C2, Figs. 11, 12, and 13. which is supported on a table or platform C18 at the front end of the machine. The carrier is provided with plates (1*, which move back and forth in guideways C5 of the platform, also with spring-actuated pawls or abutments C, which are fixed in the table and the forward ends of which normally project above the top thereof, and also with longitudinally-extending guide-bars C7. The pawls CGare arranged in pairs and are each pivotally secured at its rear end, while its forward end may move up and down, but is normally held upward at an angle by a spring C8. hen the carrier is moved backward toward the front of the machine, the high end of the first set of pawls will be pressed down by and pass under the blank; but when the carrier is moved forward toward the back end of the machine these pawls being in their normal position will engage with the back edge of the blank and move it forward a distance equal to the length of the stroke or movement of the carrier. As the carrier returns another set of the pawls will be drawn under the blank and will engage with it and carry it forward the length of another stroke of the carrier. The last set of pawls will place the blank in the folding mechanism D, hereinafter described, and will leave it there to be operated on by other mechanism. As the blank is pushed forward by the said pawls it is carried between the guidebars C7, Figs. 11 and 12, and it is also kept in position endwise by two adjustable side guides.

C and C10. An enlarged sectional view of two of the guide-bars G7, with the side guide C and adjusting-screws C12 passing through a supporting-bracket Cu for adjusting the position of the side guide, is shown in Fig. 14. Both of the side guides, with their relation to the other mechanism, are shown in Fig. 12. One of the guide-bars C7 lies above the other, so that the blank may slide between them, and they are held in their relative positions by strong U- shaped supporting-brackets Cu, Figs. 11, 12, and 13. The guide C" is preferably shorter than the other and may have its end curved a little outward and may also be left to spring outward, so as to facilitate the entry of the blank when it is placed upon the table, with one end butted up against the longer projecting end of the guide C10. The adjusting-screws are ,Operated by having two of them screw into the side guide and draw it outward, while the middle screw is threaded to screw through the bracket and have its point push thev side guide inward. By these means the side guides IOO IIO

IIS

can. be adjusted to the exact position desired. Besides these means of adjustment the table itself is so supported in recessed brackets A1S in the front end frame A2 by means of lianges C13 that it can be adjusted laterally by screws C11 and held in that position by vertical screws C15, which project through slots C1 in said flanges, Figs. 10 and 13. The carrier is reciprocated by means of a bell-crank lever having arms J2 and J1 and turning upon the pivot J, a link J 3, that joins the top of arm J 2 of the bell-crank lever -with a descending lug' of the carrier, and a pitman J 1, that is moved up and down vertically by a crank-arm J 1; on the end of the shaft B1, Figs. 1, 3, and 11. The length of the movement is adjustable by means of a slot J7 through the arm JG, that allows the wrist-pin to slide lengthwise of the arm and be fastened at a greater or less distance from the shaft B1, thereby making the distance that the pitman J1 will move up and down greater or less, as may be desired, and also by means of a turnbuckle JS in the pitinan J1, Fig. 3, which can be used to make the pitman longer or shorter at will. After the blank has been pushed by the feeding apparatus into the folding mechanism D its end edges are turned partly over in opposite directions, as shown at K2 and K3 in Fig. 24. These end edges are so bent over as to be subsequently' interlocked and pressed together, thus making the side seam of the can-body, as shown at K1, Fig. 29. The folding mechanism comprises two oscillatory longitudinallyslotted folders D2, each of which is provided with ajournalDBat each end, which is mounted in bearings formed in plates D1 and caps D, Figs. 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 18. The plates are secured above the anges C13 by screws C15, and the caps are held in position on the plates by screws D, Fig. 13. Each plate and cap is adjustably held in position by the screw D1, which passes through the slots D8. The inner ends of the plates and caps are recessed or cut away, so as to form (Shown in Fig. 1.0.) This opening registers with the opening between the guidebars C1 and also with the slots D2, cut through the round parts of the oscillating folders. The object of these registering openings is to form a continuous opening through the several parts, so that the blank will have a continuous open passage into the folders and also out of the folders after its ends are folded over. The guide-bars C7 pass longitudinally beyond the folders, but are cut away so as to allow the journals and round parts of the folders to be set back into them. This is necessary,' because the space between the upper and lower bars C7 is the passage-way for the blanks and each blank must have each of its ends extend to and a little beyond the axial line of the folders rotation. The folders also are each cut away fully one-half of its diameter to make room for the edges of the bars C7 lcut-away portion of the folders.

to reach to the axial line of the folders rotation. The margin of each of the bars C7 is beveled, D10 and D11, Fig. 17, to an edge along that portion of them which is adjacent to the The sharp edge of one of these bars C1 in each folder is adjusted so as to be on the axial line around which the folder rotates. The other one of the bars C1 in each folder is also beveled, as shown in Fig. 16 and in other figures. The object of thus beveling the edges of these plates is to furnish room for the folder to oscillate in and also to furnish a sharp edge bearing around which to bend the end of the blank and form the fold. As one end of the blank is folded around upwardly and the other` end is folded around downwardly, it is necessary that the edge of the upper bar U7, around which the fold is bent upwardly, should be located along the axis of the folders oscillation and that the edge of the lower bar C7, around which the fold is bent downwardly, should also be located on the axial line of the folders oscillation. To assist in obtaining an exact adjustment of the part of the folder that turns the end of the blank over to form the fold, I cut away more material from the folder and place in it a butting bar D11, Figs. 15 and 16. This butting bar has a shoulder D15 along its length, against which the end edge of the blank rests. This shoulder should be adjusted so that it will bend the end of the blank over and in close contact with the edge of the bar C7, that is fixed at the axial line of the folder-s oscillation. These abutting or adjusting bars D11 are fixed and held in position by means of screws D1 and D D, Figs. 15 and 16. As shown in Fig. 16, these screws are set quartering or at right angles to each other. There are live screws in each line. Two of the screws in eachline are marked D D. These two screws are threaded into the bar and tend to pull it against the folder. The other three screws in the line are each marked D11. These are threaded through the folder and tend to push the bar away from the folder. Thetwo lines of screws being at right angles to each other will not admit of any great amount of adjustment of the bar; but by putting the screws in a little loose enough movement is obtained to lix the exact and delicate adjustment required. The folders are oscillated simultaneously by meansof a reciprocating bar D17, which is arranged transversely of the machine. The folders each have a gear-wheel D1J lixed upon its journal. Upon the bar D17 are fixed two racks D18 D18, and into these racks are meshed the gearwheels of the folders, so that as the bar is reciprocated the folders are oscillated. Another rack D18 is attached to the under side of the bar D11, and this rack is engaged with and IOO driven by the segmental ra ck D20. (See Figs. 17

and 18.) The rack D2o is rocked on its pivot D21 by a pitman D22, which is reciprocated by a pear-shaped cam D23, having a pear-shaped cam groove or channel cut in its face adjacent to its periphery on the shaft B2, Figs. 1, 3, and 17. The upper end of the pitman is slotted longitudinally, as shown at D22, Fig. 1, to allow the shaft B4 to pass through it, and thereby guide it in a straight line as it moves up and down. This pitman is also provided with a stud or pin D25, which engages with the camgroove and carries the pitman up and down.

l An antifriction-roller may be mounted on the pin and travel in the camgroove, and thus avoid friction. The amount of the reciprocation of the folders is vregulated and adjusted by securing the lower end of the pitman D22 in a block D26, which can be moved in a slot D27 in the segmental rack D20 by an adjustingscrew D28, Fig. 18. The movements of the folders are so timed that they can be rotated to form the folds after the blank has been deposited therein and before it can be moved forward beyond them. For this purpose the pear-shaped cam D23 is made very abrupt, so as to actuate the folders very quickly, and by properly arranging the parts the abrupt portion of the cam is made to act while the parts are descending, thereby utilizing the weight of said parts to assist in operating the folders while they are doing the work of bending over the ends of the blank. The folders rotate to the distance required to sufficiently bend over the end of the blank and immediately return to their original position while the blank remains in them. This is requisite in order that the slotted passage-way through the folders for the ends of the blank to pass through may register with the passage-way for the blank between the upper and lower bars C7, and thus allow the blank to pass on beyond the folders. As a convenient way of obtaining the sharp edge for the folders to bend the ends of the blank over I cut away the inside face of each one of the bars C2, that has the axial edge around which the end of the blank is folded, and place in the space thus cut away a thin wear-plate D12, Fig. 16. The wear-plate runs the length of the beveled part of the bar and is wide enough to furnish a good surface for securing it to the bar. It may be held by countersunk screws Dl, passing through it into the bar that carries it. The holes through which the screws pass may be somewhatlarger than the screws, and thus leave room for adjustment. The edge of the wear-plate when used becomes the sharp edge around which the ends of the blanks are folded, and is placed at the axial line around which the folder oscillates. After the blanks have thus had their ends folded they are carried forward by a former and bent around a horn L into a semicylindrical form. They then have the flux applied and afterward have the folded ends interlocked and pressed into a firm seam. They are next finished by soldering. The former is carried by the endless traveling double E2, two at each end.

sprocket-chain B, mounted on the double sprocket-wheels B3 B2, already described. The former is carried by said double sprocketchain and is carried with it in one continuous endless movement around a single endless path and having no back or reciprocating movements whatever. The horn L is made long enough so that the can-bodies will be soldered and finished when they leave it. One end of the horn is secured close to the rear end of the table C18 in an extension L2 of a bracket C3. The horn is supported at a point some distance forward of the bracket C3 bya pillar L3, Figs. 1, 10, and 11. This leaves the longer portion of the horn projecting longitudinally, with the machine free and independent of any support, so that the former and blanks and can-bodies may slide over the horn without meeting with any obstructions. A casting T, Figs. 10 and 11, is turned to fit inside of the horn and extends back into the extension L2, thus connecting the horn with the said extension. A bolt L4 secures the casting in the said extension, and a pin R secures the end of the horn to the said casting. The pillar L3 is threaded at its lower half and passes down into a standard, as shown in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. G. A large nut rests upon the top of the standard and carries the pillar. By turning the nut in different directions the pillar is raised or lowered as desired, and the position of the horn is thereby adjusted. The former mentioned is made in shape so that it will bend the blank around the horn and form it into a cylinder for the making of a canbody. The former is made with five parts, which when joined together by hinges may be placed around the horn and form a cylinder the inner circle of which will make a complete hollow circle in cross-section of just the right diameter to inclose the horn with the thickness of the blank bent into a cylinder around the exterior of the horn and the interior of the former. The formers as a whole are marked E in the drawings. The tive parts of which the former is composed are longitudinal with the machine and are all hinged together. The middle piece or base E2 has extended ears These ears are perforated, and through them are passed the linkrods B, upon which the formers are mounted and by means of which they are connected with and carried by the double sprocket-chain B, Figs. 7, 19, 35, and 31. Fig. 35 is a top View showing the base-piece E2 and also the two adjacent wings E3, that are hinged to it. This gure shows the former in its closed position. Another wing, E", is hinged vto each one of the wings E2, thus completing the connection of the five pieces that make up the former. Fig. 7 is a top View that shows the former in an open position and the wings E'1 EL in an extended position. At the top of Fig. 3 is shown in end elevation all of `the wings of the former E in an4 extended position. lt

is in this position when it is traveling back toward the forward end of themaehine and is riding on the top of the chain. The weight of the wings while in this position is sutlicient to hold the former open, as shown. 1n the same figure the former is shown in the same open position, where it iirst begins pressing upon the top of the horn at the commencement of its forward movement. The wings of the former are held in their extended position by means of locking-bars El() and hinged levers En. The locking-bars E10 control the wings E2, while the levers E11 control the wings E".

E17 represents two pins that are fixed in and project backward from the base-piece E2 of the former. The bars E10 are made with slotted holes E1S through them, by means of which they are placed upon said pins, so that they may slide crosswise of the machine a suii'icient distance to permit of their being locked and'unlockedby and from the pins E17. rlhe bars E10 are placed one in front of the' other and are supported upon the pins El, which pass through both of the bars, Fig. 30. The bars are held upon the pins E17 by any suitable means, as by the bracket E7, which is cut away for their passage, as shown in Figs. 19 and 31. r1`he bars E10 are beveled at their lower sides at El, and at the upper edge of the bevel each contains a socket that will receive the pin E, which projects from the wing E2, Fig. 30. When the pins E come in contact with the bevels El, the bars will be moved endwise in opposite directions from each other a sufficient distance to allow the pins E14 to enter the said sockets and hold up and support the wings E3 in their prop'er positions. Each of the bars E10 extend some distance beyond the pins E at each end, so as to allow both ends of the bars t0 rest and slide upon those pins when the bars are being locked or unlocked.

E12 represents two pins, one of which is fastened in and projects forward from the outer bar Ew, while the other is fastened in and projects forward from the inner bar El.

il is a slot cut through the outer bar E10, so as to allow the bar to slide end wise, with `the pin E13 of the inner bar thus passing through it.

A coil-spring E12 (shown in Figs. 30 and 35) has one of its ends fastened to one of the pins E13 and its other end fastened to the other pin E12. This coil-spring draws the outer bar E10 toward the left side of the drawings and causes it to lock with the pin Eu at that side, while the same spring draws the inner bar E10 in the opposite direction and causes it to lock with the pin E14 at the right-hand side of the drawings.

EU represents two long` vertical trips or handles, one of which is fast with one of the bars El and the other is fast to the other bar E10. ln going forward these two vertical trips or handles are tripped by the stops or deiiectors A10, Figs. 6 and 7 and in so doing they draw the vertical trips'or handles apart and unlock the bars E10 from the pins EM. When this is done, the wings E3 swing downward onto 'the horn and form a semicircular contact therewith. VVhe the blank is in place, it is bent into the form shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 24 shows the forward end of the former with the wings all extended, and Fig. 25 shows the same when the bars E10 are unlocked and the wings E3 have dropped down over the horn and the blank. Ordinarily the wings E3 will be turned down, as described, by means of theirown weight alone; but in order to make their action in this respect certainI construct Va rock-shaft with levers and arms so arranged as to force the wings E3 to turn downward when unlocked from the bars E10. In Fig. 35 of the drawings is shown the rock-shaft E2, journaled to and across the base-piece E2 of the former. It has an L-shaped lever E27 secured to each end and in position to engage with a portion of the frame A, as a stop A, Figs. 31 and 8, with its upper arms, and have its opposite arms extend downward, and which latter may be defiected slightly outward, In Fig. 31 is seen at one of its ends the rock-shaft with its arms as it is forcing the wings E3 downward, its upper-lever being in contact with the stop A11, that compels it to turn backward and downward. Then desired to have the arms continue to hold the wings E3 down, the lever may be left in the position in which thestop places it while it is passing. Otherwise the spring E2, which connects the lever with one of the link-rods B, is used, and it will draw thel lever when it has passed the stop back to its position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 81. This rock-shaft with its levers and arms is seen in Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9. 25, 30, 31, and 35. WVhether it is needed or not in the machine will depend upon the weight of the wings in the former.

A5, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4t, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 80, is a strong T-shaped track rigidly fixed in its position. It is placed at a short vertical distance over the horn and is parallel with it. ln operation the formers pass between the track A5 and the horn. Flanged rollers E29 are mounted upon the link-rods B, between the ears E5 of the former. Each link-rod BJ passes through the two ears of the former, and also through the iianged roller E29, that is between them. -rFliese flanged rollers run underneath the guide-track A", the iianges reaching upward on the side thereof. The flanged rollers and also the ears E" lof the formers are kept from moving laterally along the link-rods by set-screws that extend down through the ears of the former, as shown in Fig. 30. The track A5 should be made adjustable. This is easily accomplished by slotting the bolt-holes through which the bolts pass that secure the track in its position, as shown at S in Figs. 1, 2, and 4C. Gross-beams IOS IIO

made with convenient projections or shoull enough horizontally to engage the short track ders, as shown in Fig. 3, or any other convenient additions to the frame may be utilized as devices to which the tracks may be at-` tached, and thereby secured in their proper positions in the machine. A0, Figs. l, 2, and 3, is another track parallel with and at a distance above the track A2, over which the rollers and former travel in going back toward the front of the machine. rlhis track A0 is not a necessity, as the chain will travel without it.

At the back end of the former are three studs E31, which as the former travels forward engage with the back edge of the blank and carry it forward from the folders, where the feedingdevices leftit. One of these studs projects down-ward from the center of the back end of the middle piece E2 of the former. The other two are preferably mounted upon the back ends of the pintles that join the wings E3 and E1 together on each side of the former. Fig. 34 shows one of these studs so mounted on the pintle with a small section of the two wings. (See also Figs. 24 and 30.) By making the ends of the pintles screwthreaded and also threading the hole through the stud through which the pintle passes the stud can be adjusted longitudinally with the former by turning the pintle. Longitudinal grooves or channels L5 are formed in the top and sides of t-he horn for the reception of these studs, thereby insuring a secure engagement of the studs with the back edge of the blank at three points, which will carry it forward squarely, one end going just as fast as the other, so that the two ends of the blank will lock squarely together and make an even seam at the ends of the can-body. The forward vend of the top groove in the horn registers with a corresponding groove C17 in the top of the table C10, into which the stud in the rear of the base part of the former enters to engage with the back edge of the blank to carry it forward, Fig. 12. The table is a little too high to allow the stud to pass over it without the cutting' of the groove C12 for the stud to pass through.

In the machine made as herein described the forward end of the former in passing forward over the'blank would naturally come 1n contact with it and force it out of its position before the studs would reach its back edge unless means were taken to prevent it. In order to overcome this diliiculty, I secure to the forward end of the lower track A5 a short supplemental track A12, Figs. 4, 5, and l. I also slot verticallythe holes through the forward ears E5 of the former, through which the linkrod passes, as at E0. This permits the forward end of the former to rise vertically and pass over the blank without touching it.

A12, the forward end of which is slightly inclined downward, so that the pin E20 will run up onto it. This being done, the forward end of the former is raised so that it will not touch the blank until it is engaged by the studs E21. The track A12 is made just long enough to carry the forward end of the former over the blank when the pin E20 runs off from the track and the forward end of the former drops to its lower position. rIhe pin E20 is shown in Various positions in Figs. 4c, 5, 6, 24, and 35. In Fig. 4 it is shown in two positions. In one the link-rod is at the lower part of the slot E0, and in the other it is at the upper part of the slot. In the forward end of the middle piece E2 of the former is placed another stud E27, that enters the groove in the top of the horn when the forward end of the former comes down at the time that the pin E20 runs off of the end of the short track A12. This stud is placed so that it will nearly or quite contact with the forward edge of the blank. The blank is thus confined between the three studs at its back edge and one stud in the middle of its forward edge. These studs control the position of the blank and keep it in its place until it becomes a finished can-body. Vhen the former is dropped upon the blank, as described, only the middle or base piece E2 comes in contact with the blank. The inner shape of this middle piece being in cross-section a curve corresponding to the curve of the circumference of the finished can-body presses the blank down upon the horn and gives it the bend shown in Fig. 24. By the unlocking' of the bars E10, as already described, the two wings E3 of the former are turned down, bending the blank into a half-circle and placing the wings and blank in the positions shown in Fig. 25, the wings E* being still heldup by the levers E11 and pins E200, which areheld in the notches E21 of the levers. While the former with the blank is traveling forward in this position, the flux or acid is applied as follows: G2, Fig. 9, is an acid-tank, and G3 and G1 are branch pipes leading from the same to the folds at the ends of the blank. Acid will iiow from the pipe G3 to the inside of the fold K2, which bends outward. The pipe G" carries the acid from the tank to and keeps saturated with the acid a sponge or fibrous mass G5, against which the outside face of the fold K3 rubs and becomes wet with the acid as it passes along. This puts the acid or iux on those parts only of the folds which do not form any part of the inside of the can, and hence no acid gets into the inside of the can to injure its contents. A pan or other ordinary receptacle should be placed underneath to catch the acid that will drip from the folds.

, E200 represents pins that are fastened in and project forward from the two wings E". Each of these pins is adapted to engage with the IOO IIO 

